Share the Truth

by Laura Koenig and Ryan Klaver

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes." —Romans 1:16

Lexie P. used to describe herself as quiet. That’s used to—as in she’s not quiet anymore, especially about her faith.

Last October, God pulled Lexie out of her comfort zone. She shared her love for Jesus and the Bible with her classmates through Bring Your Bible to School Day.

Facing Fear
This 13-year-old, along with her friend Sydney C., were two of more than 150,000 students who stood up to celebrate religious freedom. But the decision to lead Bring Your Bible to School Day at their school in Georgia wasn’t easy.

As the two girls brainstormed ideas for the event, they struggled with feelings of doubt.

“God was calling me to do something,” Lexie says, “but at the same time, I was feeling fear and darkness.”

Lexie asked a lot of “what if” questions concerning judgment from her classmates. Sydney also hesitated because the 14-year-old feared no one would join them.

Even with these doubts, the pair remembered that this day was about God, not about their own popularity.

Plan of Action
The girls talked to their school, letting the administrators know they wanted to participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day. Then they got to work.

They handed out flyers and made T-shirts with logos they found at BringYourBible.org. Classmates became more interested when they posted information on social media.

On Bring Your Bible to School Day, the pair felt a sense of peace as they moved forward with their plans. The girls started the morning with a prayer around their school’s flagpole. More than 70 sixth- through eighth-graders gathered for Sydney’s prayer.

As she prayed, Sydney felt God giving her encouraging words to say. She hoped the prayer spoke to someone who was at the pole or walking by.

Throughout the day, Lexie’s faith grew stronger. She kept remembering Bible verses, sayings and devotions as she walked into school. Classrooms that were normally silent about faith were filled with conversations about Jesus and the Bible.

“It was the first time I'd ever seen this happen,” Lexie says. “It was like God was shining through the hallways. ...It was just amazing.”

Proclaiming Truth
After the thrill of bringing their Bibles to school, Lexie and Sydney realized the importance of God’s Word in their lives.

“There’s truth in what God tells us,” Lexie says. “There’s truth in His words. He’s not going to lie.”

By stepping out of their comfort zones and putting their faith into action, the girls saw Jesus exceed their expectations. Now they can’t wait to see what God does in their school and in their lives this October . . . and they’re going to be even bolder.

“I was not willing to share my faith with people in school or out of my church or family,” Lexie says. “I feel Bring Your Bible to School Day has lifted that weight off and thrown it out. Now I’m willing to talk about my faith with everybody and anybody no matter who they are.”

Bring Your Bible to School Day takes place on Thursday, October 6, in the United States.

Sponsored by Focus on the Family, this event gives students the opportunity to take their Bible to school and talk about it with friends. Make a difference by following these steps:

1. With the help of a parent, go to BringYourBible.org. You can sign up for the event and receive a free guide along with posters, T-shirt designs, information and tips.

2. Tell your principal that you will be participating in Bring Your Bible to School Day as well as handing out cards and displaying posters. As long as you don’t disrupt class or school instruction, you should have the right to take part in this event.

3. Gather your friends! Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”

4. On Thursday, October 6, bring your Bible to school! Read it during free time and discuss it with your classmates. Be prepared to answer questions and find important verses. You may even want to bring an extra Bible to share or give away.

Sticky Situations
Bring Your Bible to School Day is a great chance for your friends and classmates to ask you questions about your faith—maybe even a few hard ones. But there’s nothing to fear! God gave you His Word and the Holy Spirit to help you answer.

Pray that God would give you courage and respect as you talk about Jesus with your classmates. Prepare yourself by grabbing some sticky notes and marking important passages in your Bible. Here are some to get you started:
—Who is Jesus? (John 3:16; John 10:30)
—Why do I need Jesus? (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23)
—How do I get to heaven? (Romans 10:9)
—What about other religions? (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
—Is the Bible true? (2 Timothy 3:16)
—How do I know God is real? (Romans 1:20)